2 LeT militants involved in BJP leader killing identified: IGP

Srinagar, Jul 9 : Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar on Thursday said that two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, including a Pakistani national, involved in the killing of BJP leader, his father and brother late last night in north Kashmir district of Bandipora have been identified.
Militants on Wednesday night killed BJP leader Wasim Bari, his father Bashir Ahmad and brother Umer Bashir at his shop, which is adjacent to his residence and opposite a police station.
Accepting that there was a security laps, the IGP said all the 10 Personal Security Officers (PSOs), who were guarding BJP leader, have been dismissed and taken into custody.
Mr Kumar, who on Thursday visited the site where the attack took place in Bandipora, told reporters that it was a pre-planned attack and could have been averted if security personnel would have been alert.
“Two LeT militants, including a foreigner and a local identified as Abid, carried out the attack. The militant fired short at the BJP leader and his brother and father from close range,” he said.
“I along with officers from Army and CRPF analyzed the CCTV footage from the Police station (which is opposite to the resident of the BJP leader). We have come to a conclusion that there was no shortage of security. There were 10 personnel, including two from security wing and eight from district police,” IGP told reporters.
He said at the time of the incident eight PSOs were present in the residence of the BJP leader which is more than enough. “Even if two security personnel would have been with the BJP leader, they could have killed the militants,” he said.
So, he said it is a laps on the part of police personnel. “We will take action. We have already suspended all 10 of them and they will be dismissed from the service… they have already been arrested,” he added.
He said after examining the CCTV footage, it appears that it was a preplanned attack. “The militants had preplanned the attack and had approached the BJP leader on foot. Earlier in the day, a militant could be seen in the CCTV footage keeping a watch on the leader. The BJP leader was being watched when he went to his inlaw in a vehicle and came back,” he said.
Answering a question if the security of leaders has to be revised, the IGP said all leaders who have a threat have been provided with security. “The number of security force personnel assigned for security is not important. The important thing is how alert and brave a security personnel is,” he said.